Dr Fox

Hi Allan Climb aboard and welcome, I am sure you will find the board self explanatory in its workings. A small point if I may! Yes the board is free at point of entry, but members through donations, and other gift enabling schemes, help with the running costs. All voluntary of course.

The mei looks machine rolled not chiseled, especially where strokes cross each other.

A post I feel is definatly worth more than one reading.

Ok job done. Not deciding on a koiguchi total rebuild, I decided that the grip on the sword by the habaki was all that was needed. So at the top two runners as fenders from the metal, and one at the bottom to straighten the habaki into the saya. All set with rice glue, (making sure its total dry) and now a tight fit with room to spare without touching septa. Ok not an invisible repair, but no damage done, and can be repeated at a later date if needed, but a safe sword.

On that note, with the boards help I did my own. See my post Can I repair my saya. Which reminds me, I haven't posted a finished picture. Within the hour I will post it on here in case it will help. Bear with me OK.

Hi Jason Have you checked that the koi guchi on the saya, is still offering a best grip. If its become enlarged, then a repair there could save you the cost of a habaki.

Christian With all due respects, and I need help here, because I think I must be wrong! Before your post above, I was actually for a comparison learning doing just that a 'comparison'. And I could not convince myself, that the mei on the two examples did exactly match. Also has a camera angle changed the nakagojiri? Put me right please someone.

Has the kissaki had a grinder kiss?

"The seeds of doubt, grow bitter fruit"

Alan Some very good points, some of which I can relate to. A friend of mine of 40 years saw my first nihonto, an expensive blade shown off the art as we appreciate it. His startling reaction was "Whats wrong with you, I don't know why you would want that thing in your house"! He was in what appeared to be the first stages of shock! Now before I do as I am accusing others of doing (off topic), I just want to say, unless the seeds of a genuine interest are there, you will be trying to teach a pig to sing.

Dear members. Dare I call for a moments reflection? Please re - read the op by Barry. His thrust was towards promoting, a more personal approach to fostering an interest in our hobby. This by contact and meetings. Barry’s call to arms, is to us as individuals, for us to see if any contacts are around, that we could invite or even join. Its a matter of heads above the parapet. Since my last posting on this topic, a gentleman who only owns a kai gunto, not only welcomes a meet, but has also offered his dwelling as a venue. (No he is not a board member, but has a very large home). Initially there may only be two of us, but with a bit of local advertising, who knows?

I would like to add to this theme, from a UK prospective. Living on the West coast of Wales, and not being in contact with local like minded enthusiasts, there are very few opportunities to attend a gathering. An opportunity to get up close and personal, happened recently at the Token Taikai in October, this with the appreciated efforts of Paul B, and Ian C. A mention for the Token society who hold meetings in London should also be noted. Whats the problem? Well for me its my having contact with others nearer to my, and their locations, I could host a day at my home, saving venue costs. This is an idea that works, as I attended one in a home in South Wales. So apart from the economics. Unless one is in contact,with others, who would favour such an arrangement, it can't happen. Well here is an opportunity to get the message out there, is there enough interest to arrange Welsh meets? You don't have to own anything to be an enthusiast, but you would be welcome.

Chris I was all at sea, but now I catch your drift, I am back on course again. Looking at Sukehiro and his contemporaries, I see your point, the hamon has a constant undulation, as opposed to the series of 'flatlining' in this blade. As a comparison I have a Kanetane katana toran, which also shows the same as this wakizashi. So another kantei point for elimination, It would be nice to be able to say, forget the mei, the features in this blade resembles work by ...............! Its a challenge, and I am a lot further on than when I started. But I am also mindful, that there could well be no discovery, and this could be a one off, which did not excite the original smith enough to sign.

Great hint thanks Chris.

Thank you both gentlemen your opinion is valued. Now as to where I was going with this! First, even I could see that the mei is off, and to be fair I bought as such, but I thought there was a certain quality to the blade. From there on a couple of ideas, a search of books and internet, led me to the point of posting my question on the board. Now only having positive reactions so to speak, I move on. Could this blade have been made by a smith, who used the theme and style of Sukehiro? If so could unsigned examples have been passed as his work with gi-mei signatures? Was this a flight of fancy on my part? Just when I thought that was a yes, I found two references that just might give credence to my thinking. The link gives mention to ‘gi-mei Sukehiro’ http://www.nihonto.us/OZAKI%20SUKETAKA%20WAKIZASHI.htm And following on. Markus indicates several smiths who worked in the then highly praised toran- midare of Sukehiro (Shinto and Shinshinto Kantei page 309) It is my intention now to view the works of all the smiths mentioned, and see if there are any close similarities. Nothing will be conclusive, but could give possibilities to a theory. Suggestions and help from members either way on this subject would be welcomed.

Hi all. Curiosity while cleaning a wakizashi, led me to search the board on the subject of Tobiyaki, I found a post from 2009, in which Guido explained a few points on this subject. The opinion I gathered was that tobiyaki was part of the smiths intent in some cases, but in others was a happy accident. I say ‘happy’ due to the opinion that this event was not considered a flaw as such. The subject blade I have, shows ji nie and tobiyaki, so my question for discussion is, ‘would this blade be considered, in one of the two categories mentioned, if at all?’ There is a mei, but not visible in the photographs O’ Wakizashi Nagasa = 49.53. Sori = 1.4. Hamon = Ji nie. Tobiyaki. Toran-Midare? Boshi - Sagatta. Nakago = Ubu Nakagojiri = Kengyo Yasurime = Katte-Sagari. Mekugi ana = 1.

Hi Pat When you spotted the casting seam, your question was answered.

Looking forward to what you find on this Chris. With the attitude to the Gunto in Japan, it will be interesting to see, what are the features that gets this a paper. Also how the paper relates to exactly that koshirae.

Hi JoJo Do all the pieces shown, have mounting rings on the back? If not, they are certainly 'sword pieces'.

Hi John I am sticking my oar in again. Grab an opportunity to photograph the sword that KM asked about, and showing it at its best, offer it in the for sales. Nowt to lose my friend. But could arouse intrest.

See it Chris I have seen a lot of put togethers, and very few have had more than two matching numbers. So to see a collection complete made a refreshing change. Putting my cards on the table, I am a nihonto fan. But freely admit, I find a lot of interesting facts and features in Gunto work.

And this is exactly why, gentlemen like yourselves get the appreciation and knowledge, that you pass on to the rest of us mere mortals. And long may it continue.

Hi John I am also in the UK and sort have seen where your thinking is. But if you will allow might I make a suggestion? First looking at your sales, it looks like a garage clear out. That only gives the impression, that low value items are being lotted together to justify the price asked. Although I am sure it is not your intention, there is I feel a better option. I would! Separate the blades, and offer each as an individual item, having an asking price in line with the blades quality. Offer as a lot all the Gunto items at a price, and invite offers. Why? The opportunity to purchase a blade at a reasonable price, would be attractive to a wider market than the total cost of the lot, as you have offered. There are a lot of Gunto enthusiasts, who are always on the look out for spares and ‘handy bits’. You might find there is a market here in the UK.

Again thank you Brian. But in my own defence, I posted in Military swords because the wording in the translation guide lines states, 'for nihonto and related items'. So I didn't regard this gunto tsuka as a fit for those terms, in the literary sense. Chris I take your points on board, and its the likely answer to the non response cheers. As to your help, it takes me further on from where George T helped me to. So for a bit of background! The enquiry originated from me trying to confirm, that I have a complete gunto koshirae made for a particular blade, and that it has been kept complete since it was set up. The last key to the puzzle was the tsuka inscription. It does marry to all the other parts by the reading of "yama" and "6". Not being a gunto man, I thought this was worth the effort, to find out if this was common, to have a complete unit after so long? Regards both.

Well now look you. Its been over a month, and now but for your hint Brian, I would still have been waiting. Do you know, some times we just don't help ourselves.